Chelsea fans spot problem with star player's farewell message to Graham Potter

Mason Mount took to social media to thank Graham Potter following the coach's sacking by Chelsea, but supporters noticed something wasn't quite right.

On Monday, Graham Potter's miserable stint in the Chelsea dugout came to an inevitable end.

A 0-2 home defeat to Aston Villa proved to be the final nail in Potter's coffin, as the following morning Chelsea owner Todd Boehly dismissed the manager he hired just seven months ago.

Potter - who rose to fame as Brighton coach after impressing at Ostersunds and Swansea - led Chelsea to just 12 wins in 31 matches, and leaves the London side 11th in the Premier League standings.

Frank Lampard looks set to come in as caretaker manager until the end of the season, with former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann and Spanish tactician Luis Enrique among the favourites to take the job in the summer.

Having worked with Thomas Tuchel and Potter already this season, it must be difficult for Chelsea's players to keep adapting to new coaches.

It can be tough from an emotional perspective too - after all, players and managers form bonds like colleagues in any workplace do.

It's common for players to post thank you messages on social media when a manager leaves, although there was something strange about Mason Mount's post.

On Thursday - three days after Chelsea announced Potter's departure - Mount posted a photo of he and Potter shaking hands on his Instagram Story with the words: "Best of luck in the future gaffer."

The delay in posting is one thing, but the choice of image is another.

Graham Potter was sacked after just seven months in charge at Chelsea

The photo Mount posted was taken when Potter was still Brighton manager, at the end of a 1-1 draw between Chelsea and the Seagulls last season.

Eagle-eyed fans on social media were quick to notice to blunder.

"Mason Mount thanks Graham Potter. It’s been that long of a season, the picture used was when he coached Brighton," one supporter said.

"Bro had to search 'Mount and Potter' on Google to get the pic," another quipped, while one criticised Mount for the, "most half-assed best of luck I've ever seen from a player."

Referring to the delay in Mount's post, one fan said: "That's why it took him so long to say goodbye because of searching for his pictures with him."

Some were a bit confused as to why Mount didn't use a photo from this season.

"There are actually quite many from Potter's time at Chelsea together with Mount, strange he picked one from last season," one supporter remarked.

The fact that Mount has only played in 63% of available minutes in the Premier League this season might help to explain why.